Office machine stand with foldable accessory tables



J. E. GREVE July 5, 1955 OFFICE MACHINE STAND WITH FOLDABLE ACCESSORY TABLES Filed Feb. 7, 1952 Jnren for United States Patent GFFICE P/IACHINE STAND WETH FOLDABLE ACCESSORY TABLES .iohn E. Grave, Koln-Buch'r'orst, Germany Application February 7, 1952, Serial No. 271,584

8 Claims. (Ci. 311-60) The present invention concerns an ofiice machine table, and a card-index and file stand, respectively, especially a table of this type with foldably accessory tables coupled thereto.

Ofiice machine tables and file stands are frequently equipped with accessory folding or extension-boards to thereby obtain a larger working surface. However, as such boards are unsuitable for supporting heavier loads and owing to their rectangular shape are located within insutficient reach for the person in charge, designs have already been developed to connect office machine and similar tables with auxiliary tables in articulated fashion in such a way that the working faces of the accessory tables may be drawn toward the operator. Such an arrangement, however, is quite bulky and it requires a correspondingly large space for storing for the reason that the working surfaces of the accessory tables cannot be folded down.

It is the purpose of the present invention to do away with these deficiencies and to produce an office machine table which is stable, space saving, of nice shape, may be taken to pieces, and simple to manufacture.

This is achieved in such a way that the accessory tables provided with detachable or folding boards are in articulated connection with the principal table in such a way that the accessory tables with their boards in position for use may be drawn near to the operator, while with the table boards folded down, the accessory tables lie close to the vertical stand frame of the principal stand. In accordance with the invention, the principal table is constructed for taking to pieces, in such a way, that its lateral members coupled with an accessory table may be detached in union with the latter to be packed in flat layers for shipping.

The subject matter of the invention is illustrated in the drawings by way of two samples of execution,

Fig. 1 showing in perspective the principal stand with one accessory stand swung out, and another accessory stand swung in,

Fig. 2 being a corresponding view of another type of execution of the accessory stands.

The principal stand consists of two U-shaped lateral members 1 and 2 detachably united with the aid of screws by the upper traverses 3 and 4, and the lower traverses 5 and 6. The lower traverses 5 and 6 are reinforced by foot rest 7 and bent in such a way that they offer a space for the reception of the swung in accessory stand. Table board A is fixed to the upper traverses 3 and 4, and is removed in union with the same when the principal stand is taken to pieces. The hind legs of the principal stand are provided with castors 8 and 9 while the front legs are provided with adjustable sleeves 10 and 11 to equalize any eventual unevenness of the floor.

In order to be able to equip the regular machine stand subsequently also with accessory tables, its detachable U-shaped lateral members 1 and 2, in accordance with the invention serve directly for supporting the accessory tables.

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These accessory tables B and C of identical arrange ment consist of swinging arms 14 and 15 supported by their bearings 12 and 13 on the front legs of the U shaped lateral members 1 and 2, and they are united by the vertical strut 16 and stand pipe 17. On the upper end of stand pipe 17 and supporting member 18, the board is foldably supported in bearings 19 and 20. For supporting the table board in working position, toggle joint 21 connected with the table board and swinging arm 14 has been provided. Said joint is designed in a manner already known in such a Way that it may be straightened only in the direction toward the table board. The upper end of the toggle joint 21 is guided by a pivot 22 within slot 23 of bracket 24 fastened to the table board, offering a firm hold for the table board swung in position Slot 23 has been provided to avoid any checking when the table board is swung down.

For the purpose of swinging in and out the accessory tables, stand pipe 17 is provided with a castor 25 making it possible Without any effort to shift the table toward the operator. in order to prevent any unintentional shifting of the accessory tables from the position they happen to occupy, in accordance with the present invention a blocking mechanism has been provided consisting, for instance, of a tommy screw 26 by which the slit bearing 13 of the accessory table is compressed.

According to the second example of execution (Fig. 2), oscillating arms 28 and 19 have been provided on the forward legs of the U-shaped lateral members 1 and 2 which are firmly interconnected through stand pipe 30 on whose lower end a castor 31 has been pivotally attached. On the oscillating arm 29 two supporting members 32 and 33 have been provided on which the table board is foldably supported within its bearings 34 and 35. The stand pipe 36 provided with a sleeve foot 37 is supported on the front legs of the U-shaped lateral members 1 and 2 by means of swinging arms 38 and 39, and disposed in such a way that, alongside of the two supporting members 32 and 33, it serves as a third support for the table board. 40 indicates the notch in which the stand pipe 36 comes to rest. For the purpose of fixing the accessory tables in the position desired, in accordance with the present invention a tommy screw 26 has been provided by which the slit bearing 27 of the accessory table is compressed.

Any subsequent attaching of accessory tables to any principal table previously supplied may be readily effected by the user himself. For that purpose, the sleeve feet 10 and 11 of the principal stand are simply unscrewed and the lower front screws removed whereupon the accessory table is slid with its bearings over the particular leg of the main stand. The traverses retightened will then simultaneously form a limitation of the movement toward below of the secondary tables mounted in place, when the forward legs are lifted when the principal stand is moved away on its rollers.

With a View to facilitating shipment of the principal stand equipped with secondary tables, in accordance with the present invention, the accessory tables are supported on a detachable lateral frame 1 and 2 each of the principal table, in such a way, that they may be placed with one board adjacent to the other board in folded condition.

For special purposes such as for card-index, sorting out or displaying tables, accessory tables may be attached in the same manner also to the hind legs of the principal stand, to be stripped of, however, for packing. It is recommended, therefore, to provide castors that may be withdrawn from the stand legs.

If it should be desirable to equip the principal stand with secondary tables of a higher level, this may be elfected, in accordance with the invention, in such a way that the legs of the principal stand have an idenncal.

distance from one another, and the cross bars and 6 7 connected with a foot rest 7 may be mounted displaced 7 use without difficulty.

What is claimed as new is: p

1. In an ofii'ce table of the class described a principal square table having a principal table board and a principal stand frame formed of pipes and comprising vertical stand pipes at the corners, an accessory stand having a frame and a table board foldable about a horizontal axis on said accessory stand frame means to support said accessory top in the horizontal position, two sleeves at the one side of the accessory stand frame located one aboverthe other, surrounding one of said vertical stand pipes, and being swingable and vertically movable thereon, and a castor at the lowermost end on the outer side of the accessory stand frame said accessory table with its board lifted in position for use may be swung close torthe operator at one side of the principal table adjacent said vertical stand pipe and with its board in folded down position may be swung closely to the principal stand frame, said accessory stand being sustained by 'said castor which responds to the unevennesses of the fioor which permits vertical shifting of said sleeves on their vertical stand pipe.

2. In an ofiice table according to claim 1, means for fixing said accessory table to the principal table in any swinging position about its vertical stand pipe.

3. In an office table according to claim 1, said accessory stand frame being of flat shape and consisting of a stand pipe and oscillating arms fixed thereto and provided with said sleeves, and adjustable means for sustaining the board in its lifted position.

4. In an ofilce table according to claim 1, said accessory stand frame being of fiat shape and consisting of a stand pipe, and oscillating arms fixed thereto and provided with said sleeves, and a toggle joint for sustaining the accessory table board in lifting position, pivotally connected with its one member to the lower oscillating arm and with its other member to the acessory table board.

5. In an oflice table of the class described a principal square table having a principal table board and a principal stand frame formed'of pipes and comprising vertical stand pipes at the corners, an accessory stand having a frame and a table board foldable about a horizontal axis on said accessory stand frame, means to support said accessory top in the horizontal position, two sleeves at the one side of the accessory stand frame located one above the other, surrounding one of said vertical stand pipes, and being swingable and vertically movable thereon, and a castor at the lowermost end on the outer side of the accessory stand frame, said accessory table with its board lifted in position for use may be swung close to the operator at one side of the principal table adjacent said vertical stand pipe and with its board in folded down position may be swung closely to the principal stand frame, said accessory stand being sustained by said castor which responds to the unevennesses of the floor which permits vertical shifting of said sleeves on their vertical stand pipe, said means for supporting said accessory top in horizontal position comprising a swingable vertical supporting stand pipe, oscillating arms fixed thereto, pivotally and vertically shiftably connected 7 to the principal stand frame, a rest abutment provided at the lower side of said accessory board cooperating with the upper end of said swingable vertical supporting stand pipe.

6. In an ofiice table according to claim 1, said principal stand frame consisting of U-shaped bent,'detachable side members, detachable upper front and upper bacl: transverses, detachable lower transverses connecting the legs of each side member and a foot rest connecting said lower transverses, whereby vertical shifting of the accessory stand frame being limited by said upper and lower. transverses and the accessory frame may be mounted with its sleeves onto or taken olf its stand pipe with the concerning transverse being detached.

7. In anotfice table according to claim 1, equalizing sleeves adjustably provided on the lowermost ends of the vertical pipe members, said equalizing sleeves being detachable in order to enable said accessory stand frame being pivotally mounted on one of said vertical pipe members after the equalizing sleeve and the transverse member in question being taken off.

8, in an office table according to claim 1, said principal stand frame consisting of U-shaped bent side members, the webs of which being arranged above and the four vertical stand pipes of which being disposed at an even lateral distance from each other, means for pivotally connecting said accessory stand frame with one of said vertical stand pipes, transverse members connecting said side members, and means adapted to displace said transverse members by degrees in their horizontal planes in order to be positioned as front plane of said principal stand frame in the plane of two adjacent stand pipes each belonging to one of the two side members, or the plane of one of the side members itself.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

